American Express-Membership Rewards or Starwood?
Mar 11, 2006, 6:13 am
#76
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Programs: AS; AA; UA; DL; VS; BA; Nat'l Emer. Exec.; AGR
Posts: 2,250
Originally Posted by mia
Membership Rewards offers reward redemptions on these airlines. Cautions: 1) If the Reward Type does not say "Transfer" MR points cannot be moved to that program but can only be redeemed for specific awards. 2) There are two versions "Membership Rewards" and "Membership Rewards Options". If you are not logged into the Amex site it will display the less favorable "Options" redemption levels. For the most part "Membership Rewards" points convert 1:1 to miles.
dennis
dennis
Dennis, your link does take you to a page which shows some 1:1 redemption options - is this MR or MR Options?
Mar 11, 2006, 12:43 pm
#78
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 49,056
Membership Rewards Options is simply a watered down version of Membership Rewards. Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to airline miles, but Options points transfer 2:1, meaning twice as much spending is required to earn the same amount of miles or hotel points. If the link is showing 1000 points required for 1000 miles those are the normal MR rates, if it shows 2000 points for 1000 miles those are the Options rates.
Cards which offer the Options program typically have no annual fee, or a reduced fee compared to the corresponding Membership Rewards card. (If you have more than one American Express card it is possible to combine the two programs, but I think that's beyond the scope of this thread.)
dennis
Cards which offer the Options program typically have no annual fee, or a reduced fee compared to the corresponding Membership Rewards card. (If you have more than one American Express card it is possible to combine the two programs, but I think that's beyond the scope of this thread.)
dennis
Originally Posted by LGA
Would someone mind posting the key differences? I've never thought MR was particularly favorable - not sure what the "Options" stuff is about.
Dennis, your link does take you to a page which shows some 1:1 redemption options - is this MR or MR Options?
Dennis, your link does take you to a page which shows some 1:1 redemption options - is this MR or MR Options?
Last edited by mia; Mar 11, 2006 at 12:55 pm Reason: Clarity
Mar 11, 2006, 12:52 pm
#79
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 49,056
If you read the previous messages in this thread you will see that Membership Rewards has permanent 1.5 and double point categories, and recurring extra point bonuses which generate far more airline miles per transaction dollar than the SPG credit card. The catch is that Membership Rewards has fewer airline transfer partners. If you want to fly the carriers who participate in Membership Rewards it is excellent value, but a free ticket on an airline that doesn't serve your destination is worthless 
.
dennis
.dennis
Originally Posted by best
Membership Rewards doe not worth much-unless they have special promo: such as last year's 45,000 for new Green Card with $15,000 spending-which meant total of 60,000 points.